| Issue #29, October 13, 2006 |
Honoring the Artist: Sonia Grineva
This week’s cover seems perfect for the season: Main Street, East Hampton, in the fall. Its artist, Sonia Grineva, has graced the cover once before with her rendition of Town Hall, also in East Hampton. We caught up with Ms. Grineva as she was preparing to go to Italy. Even so, she still had time to travel to East Hampton once again from New York where she lives, setting up her easel on the golf course near the Maidstone Country Club.
Q: Why did you choose this particular site?
A: I love the landscape in the Hamptons. The clouds in the sky, the reflections in the water, the shades of the water. I look for lots of color, movement, space, interesting composition.
Q: Where else in America do you feel attracted to the landscape?
A: In Connecticut, especially Westport, with the water and sailboats, the Berkshires, upstate New York, particularly Saratoga.
Q: You must like the landscape in Italy as well where you can also paint outdoors.
A: Yes. I was in Florence many times; a few weeks ago, I was in Sorrento. This time I am going to the Amalfi Coast. The drive along the coast is so dramatic. I love to set up my easel wherever I am and paint. People are always coming up to me and start to talk. Sometimes I get a commission this way.
Q: It’s nice that you enjoy so many different settings. How about Moscow, where you were born?
A: There’s no water there to paint, of course. I’ve been here in America for ten years; New York reminds me of Moscow because there’s so much activity. But there are more opportunities to exhibit your work here, like outdoor art fairs in Washington Square. It’s such a rewarding experience.
Q: Did you always want to be an artist?
A: Yes; I went to art school in Moscow where I got a MFA.
Q: Did your parents encourage you? Here young people are not that encouraged to go into art.
A: Yes, they did, even though my father was a scientist. My parents had friends who were artists. They hired a private art teacher. My sister is a musician who lives in New York, and my parents encouraged her, too.
Q: What do you do when you’re not outside painting?
A: I walk a lot and take Italian lessons. I also work at getting places to show my work.
Q: I hope you come back from Italy with lots of good experiences.
A: Arrivederci.
–Marion Wolberg Weiss
Ms. Grineva’s paintings can be seen at Southampton’s Chrysalis Gallery and at Works Gallery in New York (212-966-0300). Her website is: www.grinevaart.com
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